Barcelona were handed a huge scare during their 3-1 comeback win against Real Oviedo last night after Raphinha went off injured.
The Brazilian forward lasted just over an hour before pulling up with an injury and had to be replaced by Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.
The former Bayern Munich man made an immediate impact, heading home a sublime cross from Frenkie De Jong to help Barca turn the game on its head.
Hansi Flick’s side fell behind just after the half-hour mark when a howler from Joan Garcia allowed Alberto Reina to lob home a sublime effort from close to the halfway line.
An Eric Garcia tap-in pulled Barca level before Lewandowski gave them the lead.
Club captain Ronaldo Araujo sealed the three points with a header in the 88th minute, converting a pinpoint corner from Marcus Rashford.
However, Raphinha’s injury overshadowed the impressive victory. The forward reportedly felt discomfort in the back of his right leg and had to be taken off when he couldn’t shake it off.
The good news for Barca is that initial scans have ruled out a hamstring injury, although they will have to wait until Friday to get clarity on the extent of the issue after a more in-depth examination.
Flick managed to ease fears of a long-term injury after the game when he told reporters that the substitution was a ‘technical decision’.
“I think he’s fine,” Flick said (via Mundo Deportivo). “We’ll have to wait until tomorrow [Friday], but I think he’s fine.”
Before leaving the pitch, Raphinha, who stepped in for the injured Lamine Yamal on the right flank, was a menace to Oviedo’s backline.
With 70 touches, he recorded four key passes and came close to getting on the score sheet, but his long-range effort cannoned off the post.
Raphinha will likely miss Sunday’s home clash against Real Sociedad.
